Black people of OCG: Do you think when we label each other with words like, sellout, "coons", etc. that we are?

Blacks have always been divisive- always. There are only a select few within that try to bring about Unity- but there will always be other blacks with their reasonings as to why it wont work (we have different cultures- I hear this one from Africans) or- (it's racists to want "black unity - heard that from some on here). I dont call names like that- but, I do see how stupid some black people think about one another- then have the gall to express it on publlic forums. "I dont like black men" -or- "I dont like black women" -or- "this one is ghetto- that one is ghetto" ...going right along with the garbage that blunt racists on here say. I cant respect that. at all. I see black users on here, kissing some of the most vile racists behinds- giggling, and talking softly to them. when they should either completely IGNORE or TELL THEM OFF.

I'm glade u brought this up people don't realize black folk are much harder on ourselves then non-blacks.

It is divisive, and there are alot of deep emotions and complicated history that causes the use of these words and why it is done. I have never heard any black person call another black person a coon, but I have definitely heard the other terms. I think basically what happened to us as black people is that during slavery and segregation, the only way we survived was to stick together. For example, growing up, older black people were called "Uncle" or Aunt" even if not related to show the family relationship. Then later the way blacks called each other "brother" or "sister" to also reflect this sense of unity. In addition, certain behaviors and cultural ties developed that most black people considered as being a part of our sense of identity. However, now that as black people we can live where we want, and segregation no longer limits us to where we live and the circles we socialize in, we have developed a wider range of what being black in America entails. The differences create a sense of mistrust and/or sometimes envy. Thus the name calling. If you look at it closely, these names came from slavery and stereotypes from years ago, and reflect the thinking that goes along with that divisive mentality. Also, I believe that some blacks struggle with self hate and this causes them to degrade themselves or other black people. We should rise above it. Even if a black person may have a different viewpoint than another black person, we should be able to respect that without name calling. How can we say we want to be judged as individuals by others if we do not respect that fact ourselves?

I second Cocoa's emotion. I was with Qwerty for a minute but she lost me on the last lap. Looks like you might of touched a nerve with that sister and she took this really personally. Anyway, I aint mad at her. Now to answer your question, YES. I agree that the labelling is certainly divisive. And like Cocoa said, it has always been this way with us. I could go into further detail but I don't want to give the racists here too much ammunition. Lets just say that history has not been kind to us. We have an evil (but intelligently designed) identity crisis. They did a real job on us and this is part of the reason http://thetalkingdrum.com/wil.html

Yes, it is divisive, but due to our ignorance of seeing the diversity and the multiplicity within our community. We are not homogeneous group, but we are targeted as a group. See, the Willie Lynch mentality is heavenly embedded in our culture and in American history. To my surmise, all African Americans want to see the growth of the community, educationally ,economically, and financially. The problem is that we all claimed to be the Authentic" African American. The middle class despise the poor. The lighter shade despise the darker. The conservative despise the liberal and etc, etcetera We all Africans, we all have different ideas, visions, lifestyles, cultures, and faith. We have to open our eyes and see the different cultures within our community.

Yes, it's divisive. But I swear I've never heard a Black person call another one a "coon".

Yes and no. Sometimes we as blacks are our own worst enemies. However, if a black dates outside of his race, and lives in a wealthy neighboorhood, but WAIT, forgets where he came from and shuns his own people(you know not helping them, denying them), THEN he's a sellout. But just living in an upscale area, does not make one a sell out. It's the American dream.

I don't use any derogatory term to describe anyone. But I can easily say that yes it does divide blacks.

Sometimes... I don't label someone who dates outside of their race a sellout. However if a black person decides to talk bad about black people while praising people of other races, then they're a sell out... Amongst other things. I don't consider that to be divisive at all. That isn't me thinking they're against me and other black people, they ARE against me and other black folks... That's just me calling a spade a spade and this person is no longer worthy of me having their proverbial back. And sometimes, YES the name calling does go a bit too far... But it's tough love really. And I think black people are tougher on black people than they are anyone else because it stings more to see us be less than we are capable of. It stings to see us not live up to our full potential.